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TOP ASEAN ECONOMIC OFFICIALS CONVERGE IN PH TO DISCUSS TRADE AND INVESTMENT PRIORITIES

PASAY CITY—As the Philippine hosting of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings formally opens today (7 September), top ASEAN economic officials are expected to deliberate on the region’s continuing efforts to further strengthen, deepen, and widen regional economic integration initiatives, as well as to discuss strategic trade and economic relations with ASEAN’s trading partners.

The Philippine hosting of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings formally opened on 7 September with the presence of top economic officials from all 10 ASEAN Member States, as chaired by DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez. The ministerial meeting will run until 11 September.

The Meetings to be convened from 7 to 11 September include the 31st ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting, 20th ASEAN Investment Area (AIA) Council Meeting, AEM Consultations with Dialogue Partners (Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Russia, United States, Plus Three, and the East Asia Summit), and the 5th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Ministerial Meeting, among others.

“With the shared vision and collective will to promote an integrated, peaceful and stable community, we have progressed as a regional bloc utilizing a successful model of economic integration and cooperation under the framework of one ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),” said Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and 2017 AEM Chair Ramon Lopez.Read more.

Top trade officials from the 10-member organization called on President Duterte on 6 September, a day before the Philippine hosting of the 49th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Meeting and Related Meetings officially opens.

“As we continue to steer ASEAN’s direction towards our shared goal of integrating the wider region into the economic global activity, we call on the parties in the ongoing Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations to remain committed in delivering the agreement towards substantial conclusion,” said President Duterte in his speech.Read more.